creating temporary one-way mirror?

Has anyone ever turned a regular clear glass window into a one-way mirror?

I'm hoping to change a big window between two conference rooms into a
one-way mirror (for use during usability testing). It doesn't have to be
perfect, just mostly functional.

The catch is that I only have approval to do this temporarily. I have
several good leads on how to do this permanently with various glass/film
materials, but so far I haven't convinced the powers-that-be.

I also don't know which of the various conference rooms in the building
is best suited for testing, so I like the idea of trying each room
before committing to anything permanent.

Comments

8 Jun 2010 - 9:05pm

elvenmuse

2010

..just use silver.

>

23 May 2007 - 1:28pm

Johansen, Kristen

2006

You can accomplish this with removable automotive window
tinting film and lighting (keeping lighting very bright
in the lab and dark in the observation room). Not
perfect, but it'll work for what you're describing. Just
make sure you get the removable static cling kind,
instead of the adhesive.

Has anyone ever turned a regular clear glass window into
a one-way mirror?

I'm hoping to change a big window between two conference
rooms into a one-way mirror (for use during usability
testing). It doesn't have to be perfect, just mostly
functional.

The catch is that I only have approval to do this
temporarily. I have several good leads on how to do this
permanently with various glass/film materials, but so far
I haven't convinced the powers-that-be.

I also don't know which of the various conference rooms
in the building is best suited for testing, so I like the
idea of trying each room before committing to anything
permanent.

What's your budget? One way to go is using perforated film for
vehicle wraps. they aren't mirrored, but will give you a similar
effect. It may even draw less attention than a mirror if you get it
in a flat color. I have a friend that works in that business, it
costs about $15 a square foot printed and installed, likely less if
there isn't any printing involved. He tells me its very easy to remove.

On May 23, 2007, at 12:17 PM, Mila Songer wrote:

> Hi Everyone,>> Has anyone ever turned a regular clear glass window into a one-way> mirror?>> I'm hoping to change a big window between two conference rooms into a> one-way mirror (for use during usability testing). It doesn't have> to be> perfect, just mostly functional.

25 May 2007 - 6:07pm

Bill Fernandez

2007

Mark--
Video cameras are small, plentiful and some are quite cheap.

If you get a wireless one you can set it at any good vantage point
and just plug it into a power outlet, then watch and/or record it
from anywhere nearby. If your budget allows, you can get them with
remote-controlled pan, tilt and zoom.

Or you can get a wired camera/microphone and just run the wires
around the perimiter of the room and under a door into an adjacent
room.

Most don't have microphones, so if you need that read the specs carefully.

If you have to work on the cheap you can get low-quality cameras and
audio/video wireless transmitter/receiver setups from x10.com.
--Bill

If I might add a little twist... a laptop with built in camera and
mic will get you sound and video over WiFI or Lan. You may have one
around the office, or you might have to spend 50 bucks on a decent
webcam. We use skype extensively for collaboration and the video
quality is pretty good iChat on the Mac side is also a good option.
We keep a mac mini in our offices with an always on video connection
to collaborate between locations. If you only need to see and hear
what's going on in the observation area, a camera makes a lot of sense.

On May 25, 2007, at 6:07 PM, Bill Fernandez wrote:

> Mark--> Video cameras are small, plentiful and some are quite cheap.>> If you get a wireless one you can set it at any good vantage point> and just plug it into a power outlet, then watch and/or record it> from anywhere nearby. If your budget allows, you can get them with> remote-controlled pan, tilt and zoom.>> Or you can get a wired camera/microphone and just run the wires> around the perimiter of the room and under a door into an adjacent> room.>> Most don't have microphones, so if you need that read the specs> carefully.>> If you have to work on the cheap you can get low-quality cameras and> audio/video wireless transmitter/receiver setups from x10.com.> --Bill>>> At 11:39 AM -0700 5/23/07, Mark Hoffman wrote:>> Has anyone ever turned a regular clear glass window into>> a one-way mirror?